Remember the outrageous price hike? Well I was patiently waiting for the Rockin Sock Club yarn that BMFA sent via USPS on 14th June. It sat in San Francisco for 5 days, yes Five days!!!!!!!! A comment made was that the price hike was for the extra rental of space for storing parcels for all those days, but USPS isn't a storage company, it is a postal service, right???

The long and short of this post is that I go on holiday/vacation tomorrow and will have to wait another week plus to receive my STR club yarn. I was hoping to post a pic for YPF but that ain't going to happen now. And what does USPS say the parcel should arrive in.....up to 10 days well it is 9 days today.

RooBeeDoo posted that she got a parcel from US very cheaply, but that wasn't trackable post and the yarn companies like BMFA need tracking to keep the customers satisfied. If USPS isn't more careful they will put an end to a lot of US businesses at this rate.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

My first crocheting, added to a long waiting cardigan knitted in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk from that same book. I have knitted better but it's all a learning curve. My older sister has asked for this and since it is her birthday on Saturday how can I refuse :)

I have finally added the crochet trim to my satisfaction. Another FO :DClose up of the ties.Close up of the sleeve detail.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Given the weather outside I decided to post the Posh Yarns Lucia I bought last weekend because of the name alone! It is lovely yarn but with the roads flooding, the rain driving and cold, Squall fits my mood. It is a very large skein 155grams and I think it is a 'manly' colour for socks, would you agree? I have enough to do socks for all 3 men in my life with this extra large skein. :)

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

I went to Dublin for the weekend and attended a beginners crochet class on Saturday morning at This is Knit in Blackrock. Ann and Lisa took the class and I learnt how to make a basic chain and do doubles etc. I can now finish my Debbie Bliss Tie fronted Cardigan.

Of course how could I pass up a real live yarn shop and not buy anything? So what did I get? 12 balls of DB Cashmerino for this and a few odd balls of Cashsilk and Puresilk for smaller items. :)

I had a ball and would have loved to have got on the DART and gone into Stephen's Green for the World Knit in Public event, but I had imposed on my aunt's goodness and her babysitting service long enough. :)

I am not buying yarn for a while now and going to finish up some of the many WiPs now on my list. :)

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Do you have anything you would hate to do without once you get it? I now have a winder and swift and I couldn't, or is it wouldn't do with out them.

My wool-winder I got on ebay but my swift is a hand-crafted work of art made by a lovely husband and wife team. And if I didn't have a 2 year old who likes to 'play' with everything my swift would always be on display with some beautiful yarn. My 9 year old says 'kewl' when he sees it in action. A compliment indeed. :)

Thursday, June 07, 2007

This arrived from Jannette and it is even lovelier than in these pics. I want to knit several garments. There is a beautiful Cashmerino DK jacket for a little boy with sheep in it and DS2 has his eye on it. :)

RooBeeDoo tagged me when I told her I hadn't been tagged, I deserved that for my moment of silliness..............here goes.....4 jobs I have had in my life:My very first job was in a local fruit and veg/deli shop. I loved all the fresh produce and learnt a lot about cheeses. My next job was as a 'helper' on a summer scheme for mentally handicapped children.I then worked as a Children's Nurse after completing my RSCN (Registered Sick Children's Course) course at the RBHSC (Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children).I later worked as a District Nurse with adults and children.4 films I can watch again and again:No prizes for this one. Lord of the Rings, I think Peter did a great job with this trilogy of films and I can watch Viggo and Sean 'to infinity and beyond'.Matrix trilogy, again I could watch Keanu do 'his flying thing' again and again.Dune, the one with Sting, I loved the books and I love this film version too.Star wars, while I prefer the first 3 (4,5,6) I still like the first 3 too. Liam Neeson is a home grown hunk whose voice is to die for. :) See a pattern here? I do .....4 places I have lived:I was born in Ghana, West Africa, though I remember very little of that home. I have since lived in Belfast, London, and Newcastle upon Tyne for up to 3 years at a time.

4 TV series I watch:My all time favourite is CSI, I love Grissom........I love this season's cliffhanger, can I wait, hell no.......hurry up!!!House MD, isn't he so arrogant but brilliant!!!! Law and Order Criminal Intent, for me this is the best of the L&O series.Silent Witness, another home grown actress who gave a wonderful portrayal of a Forensic Pathologist.4 places I have been on holiday:Kusadasi in Turkey, Ephesus is a must to go and see........Rome is fabulous, when the boys are bigger we will hopefully take there. The Collosseum, Circus etc etc will 'entertain them' Paris, France, cultural capital of the world?? Lovely and I always think of Abba's Last Summer when I think of Paris. "Walks along the Seine" etc.West Coast of America. We did a round trip from LA to The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff through Sedona, Las Vegas, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, San Francisco, Carmel/Monterey and back to LA, before the boys came along.......4 things I do every time I am on the Net:Emails, Blogs, Forums and Knitting shops......doesn't every knitter do this?4 things I would NOT eat for anything in the world:TripeTripeTripeand pickled Beetroot.....4 places I would love to be right now:New Zealand with my familyNew Zealand with my familyNew Zealand with my family, but DH won't hear of it so I'll stay right here with him and the boys. :)

Saturday, June 02, 2007

I wanted to get a couple of more STR skeins, as I do periodically. I knew there was an increase in shipping all over the US but I was GUTTED to see that the international shipping charges have doubled!!!

If an item is over $34/£18 (BTW all dollars are US) we have to pay customs from outside the EU. For example a past order from Loopy was $36 and at the time I bought it it was £18 (I checked with XE), however, when it arrived 1-2 weeks later I was charged £7 (approx $14) plus change in customs charges for the less than $2 dollars excess. This unexpected addition made the total $62.75/£34 instead of $48.75/£26.78 for 3 skeins of IT Tiny Toes. With the shipping hike now 2 skeins of STR to the UK with customs charges would potentially cost $76/£41.42, prohibitively expensive, or one skein would cost $43/£23.22 to $45.5/£24.57 (lightweight or mediumweight). Am I being unrealistic here?? I do feel sorry for the likes of BMFA and other sock clubs who will have to absorb the cost in predetermined club prices.

BTW I am not criticising the sellers, not at all. But what requires a 100% increase?? Why not phase this in over a time period?? If I get 3 skeins from Austrailia for $8 (US) why does it cost 300% more from the states, when it used to cost only 50% more ??? Why does this article say an average of 13% price increase?

Friday, June 01, 2007

You have a head for ideas - and you are good at improving systems.Logical and strategic, you prefer for everything in your life to be organized.You tend to be a bit skeptical. You're both critical of yourself and of others.Independent and stubborn, you tend to only befriend those who are a lot like you.

In love, you are always striving to improve your relationship.You have strong ideas of what love should be like.

At work, you excel in figuring out difficult tasks. People think of you as "the brain."You would make an excellent scientist, engineer, or programmer.

How you see yourself: Reasonable, knowledgeable, and competent

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Aloof, controlling, and insensitive